Navy tells shipping cos to watch out for GPS spoofing, debris in Gulf region

Panaji: Warning that the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz remain a high-risk area, the Indian Navy has noticed that fewer commercial vessels can be monitored in the region as more vessels are switching off or tampering with their location signals, making it harder for authorities to monitor activity at sea.

The threat assessment was issued by the Navy’s information fusion centre-Indian Ocean region (IFC-IOR). The Navy has advised shipping companies and masters of vessels to exercise heightened caution, keep AIS (automatic identification system) transponders on and adhere to maritime security norms. “The marine security environment across the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz remains volatile. Recent analysis indicates a sharp drop in traceable vessel movements, with dark transits and AIS manipulation on the rise, complicating marine domain awareness,” the report said.




The Navy also said vessels transiting the region have been hit by debris from missile or drone interceptions. Debris impact is yet another emerging risk in the region, the IFC-IOR report said.

The naval centre monitors the Indian Ocean and adjoining seas, generating periodic reports on maritime security, including piracy, and environmental threats.

“The minimal damage observed suggests the debris material was unlikely from a direct strike and more plausibly originated from an intercepted aerial threat, with debris from neutralised projectiles subsequently falling onto the vessel. This underscores a widening hazard envelope, where maritime traffic faces risk not only from direct targeting but also from fallout in active air defence zones,” said the report.

The Navy also said GPS interference and spoofing incidents reported across key nodes such as Fujairah approaches are further degrading navigational reliability and situational awareness.

“The cumulative effect continues to suppress confidence, elevate war risk premiums, and strain global energy and supply chains,” said the report. India has condemned attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, calling them “unacceptable”, as the International Maritime Organisation urged coordinated action to safeguard civilian vessels in the Gulf region.